Saddle for velocipedes



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. D. McGOY. SADDLE FOR VELOGIPEDES.

No, 476,479. Patented June 7, 1892.

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No. 476,479. Patented June '7, 1892.

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W. D. MCCOY. SADDLE FOR VELOGIPEDES.

No. 476,479. Patented June 7, 1892.

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UNiTED STATES PATENT Orr cn.

\VILLIAM D. MCCOY, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SADDLE FOR VELOCIPEDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,479, dated June 7,1892.

Application filed October 1891. Serial No. 407,683. (No model.)

as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, andto letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

The object of this invention is to provide a saddle free fromobjectionable rigidity at all points on the seating-surface, while itwill at the same time afford a firm and steady support for the rider.

A further object is to secure a tension in the flexible seat independentof the support-v ing-spring, whereby the elasticity of the saidsupporting-spring will not affect the said tension, to prevent thesliding of the rideron his seat when the vehicle receives a momentarycheck, to convert the saddle from a swinging seat to one that does notswing, and to secure other advantages and results, some of which will bemore fully referred to in connection with the descriptions of theworking parts.

The invention consists in the improved saddle and in the arrangementsand combinations of parts, substantially as will be l1ereinafter setforth, and finally be embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters indicatecorresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the improved saddle. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of thesame, taken on line (a. Fig. 3 is a detail side View of a certainsliding bearing for the spring upon which the flexible saddle issuspended, and Fig. 4. is a section of the same on line y. Fig. 5 is aninverted plan of the saddle. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation without theseat-support. Fig. 7 is an inverted plan showing. a modification inconstruction, and Fig. 8 is a detail side View of a portion of the same.

In said drawings, a indicates a vertical bar connecting with the frameof the vehicle and which serves as the foundation or base of thespring-support, and 1) indicates a horizontal portion, which in theordinary vehicles has been integral with the vertical bar a, but in thepresent case is hinged or pivoted to said vertical bar, as at c. Thehorizontal portion 1) has thus a pivotal movement, and thevibrations-such, for example, as are caused by riding over ordinarypaving-stovesare deadened before being transmitted to the main centerspring.

The parts a and b are each provided with lateral projections d and e fora spring f, which last controls or governs the vertical play of theportion 7) and holds the same normally in a horizontal position.

The bearings dand e preferably consist of independent castings or piecesfrom the portions a and b of the l'-rod, the said portions a and I)being tubular sections and the said bearing-pieces being set in saidtubes and held therein by brazing, rivets, bolts, or other mechanicalmeans.

The spring f takes the weight of the rider, admits of limited vibration,and renders the riding more smooth and easy, as will be understood.

It will be noted that I have shown two methods of interposing thespringf between the bearings d 6; but I am aware that otherconstructions varying from those shown may be employed without departingfrom this invention.

Upon the barb is secured an adjustable seat g, held by a set-screw h orother suitable means, the upper surface of said seat being grooved orrecessed to receive the main supporting-spring 2', in which said springis held by suitable clampsj. The main spring G01} sists of a heavy wireor rod doubled at or near the cantle of the saddle, forming what we mayterm lobes or divisions, which lie on opposite sides of the longer axialcenter of the saddle, as will be understood upon examination of Fig. 5.Each of said lobes is given the form of a loop of oblong shape, as shownin Fig. 1, which loop rests on the seat, as described. In forming theloops the wire rod, after having been bent to form the lobes, extendsforward and downward, as at 7e, and is then turned backward to providethe hearing Z, at which said spring rests upon the seat. The saidportion Z is laterally bent, as at m, to prevent any conflict orengagement with part It when pressure is brought to bear. Each divisionof the wire is then bent, as at n, upward and forward to means forconnecting the extremities with the distending-bart. Said wire may herehave a rigid relation to said distending-bar; but I prefer to allow alittle play of parts.

The means preferred for connecting the extremities of the main spring toor with the distending-bar are shown more clearly in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and5, and consist in a perforated block or piece 0, through the center ofwhich the distending-bar passes, and at opposite sides of saiddistending-bar the extremities of the spring find bearings. As beforeindicated,I prefer to allow a little play of said extremities in saidblock, and to this end I form the perforations p p, as indicated in Fig.4, so that when the portions q of the spring change their angle underpressure there will be little, if any, binding of parts, such as willcause an interference with an easy sliding of the bearing-block on thedis tending-bar. A shoulder r in the spring serves to limit motion inone direction and the extremities are upset, as at s, to preventdetachment. To secure the swinging efiect, the bearing-block 0 slides onthe distcndingbar. To prevent such swinging, a set-screw (1' may beemployed. At the front and rear which is provided with a socket, and thelatter is provided with bearings for a bracket to, which extendsdownward a short distance and at its lower extremity provides bearingsfor the distending-bar, said bracket being provided, preferably, with anangular perforation and set-screw.

The distending-bar if is preferably formed of a square rod, although itmay have any other shape adapted to prevent turning. It is alsopreferably of steel brought to a spring temper, thus affording ayielding of the seat under the weight of the rider and relieves the saidseat of excessive rigidity of tension. By making the rod angular orother than round, or by using two rods, I am enabled to maintain asubstantiallyhorizontal action without lateral or pivotal play, and thusinsuring a positive longitudinal action of the part 0 and maintaining acorrect relation of the pommel with the cantle.

hen the set-screw cl in the" bearing 0 is not in contact with the rod15, the lobe-arms q are free to push the bearing forward along the rod25 and to compress the spring f. The sliding action of the hearing willtake place whether the construction of the opposite arm is and itsconnection with the cantle-plate be of the compound joint shown in Fig.1 or of the simple hinge construction shown in Fig. 7; but to secure abackward-and-forward movement throughout the whole seat, as a distendedbody independent of the springs, I have provided the double or compoundhinge connection consisting of a link 0 and a swinging rear support dthe said link joining the said spring at the union of the portions orarms is to the lower end of the said swinging support, and the saidsupport extending upward from the said link to bearings provided betweenthe bracket a and cantle-plate. The said swinging support is bent tosecure a limited though sufficient spring action therein. To control theswinging of the seat, as described, and to cushion the vibrations, aswill be understood,I have interposed the bearingblock 0, to which theextremities q are secured between the springs f g, the said springsbeing adj ustably held in place and in proper relation to the slidingbearing-block by collars h i. By these devices and operations the rideris relieved of the unpleasant sliding on the seat heretofore referred towhen encountering obstacles and inequalities in and of the roadway.

The distending-bar at its forward end is bent upward and forward toenter the socket of the horn or pommel-plate, and at its rear end itpasses through the perforation in the bracket, where it is held by theset-screw b to give the desired tension to the flexible saddle-seat. Theforward end of the bar 25 is turned, as shown, or it maybe spirallyturned to secure a limited but sufficient spring action. Thus the mainsupporting-spring at its opposite upturned extremities is connected withsupplemental springs, which tend to further reduce unpleasant vibrationand conduce to the ease and comfort of the rider.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Thecombination, in a saddle, of a seat e and means for tensioning the same,and a spring 1' for supporting the same, said spring being connected atone end to said seat by a slide-bearing independent of said tensioningmeans and the other end of said spring having a hinged relation to saidseat, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a saddle, of a rigidor tensioned seat for therider and a spring having forward and rearward projections, one of whichis hinged to said seat and the other having a sliding relation to saidseat, free to slide without affecting the tension of the seat,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a flexible saddleseat and a distending-bar, ofa spring providing a support for the seat, the said spring at one of itsends or pair of ends having a sliding relation to said bar,substantially as set forth and shown.

4. In combination, the flexible saddle-distending bar, supporting-spring'i, and sliding bearlng 0, all said parts being arranged and adapted tooperate substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the bars a b and adjustable spring-seat g, asupporting-spring 2 having oppositely-extending arms or parts 7.: and q,and a saddle-seat having an independ- IIO ent distending-bar supportingsaid seat and supported at one end by said arms or parts q,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In combination with a saddle,a supporting-bar CL and horizontal barI), hinged thereto, and a spring f to cushion the vibrations,substantially as described.

7. In combination with a saddle, a support a, having abearing(Lahorizontal bar having a bearing 6, and a spring f, interposed betweensaid bearings and cushioning the vibrations of said horizontal bar,substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with a saddle, a hinged support comprising the hollowor tubular bars a b and inserted bearing-pieces d e and spring f,arranged and combined substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with the seat g, a spring 1', bent in the form of aloop, with upwardly and oppositely projecting arms, supplemental springsattached to said arms and supporting the saddle-seat e, and said seat,all arranged and combined substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

10. In combination with the seat 9, a central main spring clampedthereon and having arms 7.: and q, extending toward the cantle andpommel, respectively, and supplemental springs secured to said arms andsupporting said cantle and pommel, substantially as set forth.

1 1. The combination, with a seat e and a distending-bar for givingtension to the same, of a supporting-spring having arms is and q, one ofwhich is connected with the cantle and the other with thedistending-bar, and said seat 6' having said cant-1e, substantially asset forth.

12. In combination with the supportingspring with upturned arms orextremities, a saddle movable backward and forward independent of saidspring, and springs for cushioning the backward and forward vibrations,substantially as set forth.

13. In combination with the seat g, spring 2', link 6, and swingingsupport (1, a seat 6, having cantle and pom mel plates and bracket, adistending-bar t, and bearing-block 0, all arranged and adapted tooperate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

1%. In combination with the seat g, spring 2', link 0, and swingingsupport 6 a seat 8', having cantle and pommel plates and a dependingbearing a, a distending-bar t, secured in said bearing, and a slidingbearing 0, arranged on said distending-bar and receiving the spring 2,all said parts being arranged and adapted to operate substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

15. The combination, with the flexible sad-, dle-seat anddistending-bar, of a supportingspring centrally located under the seatand having an independent relation to said bar in the matter of tensionon the seat, so that when the tension is applied by means of the bar thesaid spring is in no way affected thereby, for the purpose set forth.

16. The combination, with a seat e and a distending-bar for givingtension to the same, of a supporting-frame centrally arranged under thesaid seat and having arms 7s and (1 provided to admit of a downwardmovement, a slide 0, adapted to admit of said movement of said arms, anda spring f, limiting the move ment of said arms, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

17. The combination, with a flexible sad'dlcseat, of a tension-rod, anda bearing 0, and a spring 11, having a hinge connection with one of theterminals of the said seat and extending therefrom to the oppositeextremity of the seat and engaging the bearing 0, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

18. The combination, with a flexible saddleseat, of a tension-rodprovided with a sliding bearing, and a spring 1', having a'hingeconnection at one extremity of the seat and thence extending to theother extremity of said seat and engaging said slide-bearing,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this3d day of October, 1801.

IVM. D. MCCOY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, D. H. MCCOY.

